Monthly Archives: September 2013

9 Month Update

9 months!  Almost as long on the outside as on the inside.  I know I sound like a broken record but each new phase just keeps getting better.  Jack is so action-packed.  He has to be on the go all the time, except for first thing in the morning.  He really likes to cuddle and wake up slowly.  And don’t try to rush him!  He’ll let you know he isn’t ready to get moving yet.  IMG_2673

He toddles around the house really well.  He still has his half human half monkey crawl but it is fast. He also scales the walls and cruises along the furniture.  He can hold his standing on his own for about half a minute and gets so excited that he claps.

He still loves baths and laughing.  He recently is really into books, especially the touch and feel kind.  He looks around for them at bedtime and loves to settle into one of our laps to follow along and help turn the pages.  He loves light switches and smiles at the Dr. Suess cover in his bedroom (thanks Aunt Tina!) as he turns it off and on…and off and on…Speaking of smiling he smiles and talks to the baby on the water jug, his Pixar bath toys from Uncle Mark, and some of his stuffed animals.  It just cracks me up.

The house is mostly baby-proofed.  Anything that isn’t really a toy like dirty shoes and door stops are especially appealing.IMG_2658

He must be in the middle of a growth spurt.  He fell asleep at dinner this week, which is not like our champion eater.  He is quite the eater and hasn’t met a vegetable he doesn’t like.  Fruit is still just so-so for him.  And cheese is the first food he reaches for on his tray.
IMG_2659And just for fun- quick look at 1 month compared to his current 9 months:1MnthIMG_2666We went for a hike/walk near the Celery Bogs on Cattail Trail with Jack yesterday, and a couple asked us how old Jack is before telling us their “baby” is 28.  Time is going fast, he is growing up, but this little guys will always be our baby.

The good and bad of adjusting

I’m starting my third week of classes and finally feel like I have caught my breath.  Nope, the house is still not completely unpacked.  I haven’t had a run outside our neighborhood.  I’m working through reading and writing more than I’ve done in any of my other engineering schooling.  And I started to feel “homesick” last week when I started thinking about my friends in Kansas City.

I pulled up some pics that made me smile.  On my last run with my runner girls, self dubbed Runch (we run, then we lunch), I found these signs all along our route.  Wow, do I miss these girls!  (And a certain couple of other friends who weren’t necessarily part of the runner gang but who made me smile all the time.) IMG_2441IMG_2443IMG_2442

So I let myself pout about missing people for a bit.  And about having to leave a pub where we were going to order dinner because Jack is “underage.” (Indiana has some strange liquor laws).   But my PhD program is surpassing my expectations.  I am so excited about my classes and potential research.  My cohort is amazing!

Plus we are now close enough to make easy trips to see family.  We went to Rossville on Saturday to celebrate my mom’s birthday.  Jack was a charmer the whole time. IMG_2580

We also bought a baby pool this weekend because Jack is such a water baby.  The cuteness could just about kill me.

IMG_2601IMG_2615IMG_2616(Believe it or not, the “toy” Jack is holding is his favorite and was attached to his baby bath tub.  He calls it Blah Blah)

And I took a much needed study break on Monday to go for a hike at Ampitheater Park in West Lafayette.  It was beautiful weather and a pretty flat but shaded hike.  I think we will be here a lot in the fall.photo (1)

And tonight I taught my first cycle class at International Sports Club near Purdue Research Park.  I have a 5:30pm Tuesday night class.  SO excited to be jumping back in!  Plus, I have the option of 3:30pm classes with college students.  Flexibility is nice!

Plenty more adjusting to do, but so happy to have my two favorite side-kicks with me for the journey.  Has anyone been to Lafayette?  Any suggestions for places we need to check out?